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- Day 1 - Ash Wednesday
- Day 2 - Feb 18
- Day 3 - Feb 19
- Day 4 - Feb 20
- Day 5 - Feb 21
- Day 6 - Feb 22
- Day 7 - Feb 23
- Day 8 - Feb 24
- Day 9 - Feb 25
- Day 10 - Feb 26
- Day 11 -Feb 27
- Day 12 - Feb 28
- Day 13 - March 1
- Day 14 - March 2
- Day 15 - March 3
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What is your Lenten intention this year? Will 2021 be the year you follow through to growing ever closer to the mystery that is God in Christ? Or will you settle for the same old same old? Beyond the symbolic smear of ashes, this year, self-applied, where shall you begin in your quest to grow and know and humbly serve the Lord? Better, do you know what God has in store for you? And just how do you yourself "experience" God? How about discovering something radically new--and ancient?
Consider this wisdom, almost seven hundred years true:
For silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor eating; solitude is not God, nor company; nor any other pair of opposites. God is hidden between them and cannot be found by anything your soul does, but only by the love of your heart. God cannot be known by reason, nor by thought, caught, or sought by understanding. But God can be love and chosen by the true, loving will of your heart.~
from THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING
The 14th century spiritual classic, The Cloud of Unknowing, author anonymous, provided seekers after an authentic experience of God something of a roadmap to the eternal and divine doorless palace where God "dwells." The author was intent on challenging the growing notion of medieval mind that God could be understood by scholastic calculations and intellectual formulations alone. No, The Cloud asserted, access to an experience of God was available universally to all who humbled themselves, and cultivated a spiritual awareness and alertness that was fed by grace from the Holy Spirit, We need but ask, and be sincere in our intentions to follow Christ. But wait: In this year where so much of our life experience feels upside-down, might we not check in with God and favor Him with the initiative? Perhaps maybe we've been approaching this work from the wrong end, Thomas Merton wrote:
Our discovery of God is, in a way, God's discovery of us. We cannot go to heaven to find Him because we have no way of knowing where heaven is or what it is. He comes down from heaven and finds us. He looks at us from the depths of His own actuality, which is everywhere, and His seeing gives us a new being and a new mind in which we also discover Him. We only know Him in so far as we are known by Him, and our contemplation of Him is a participation in His contemplation of Himself. We become contemplatives when God discovers Himself in us.
Ah, there's that word again: contemplation. Christian writers as far back as the Apostle Paul, through the Cloud, and up to Merton have tried to communicate that there is another knowing, beyond thought, beyond feeling, a new sense (beyond our classic five) that the Cloud's author called our "sharp arrow of longing" aimed at God who is loving mystery. Exactly 1,000 years ago, St Symeon the New Theologian expressed it this way: Once the intellect has accomplished its task of discovering the place where the heart resides, it will immediately see things of which it was previously ignorant and could never have hoped to find. It will see the open spaces within the heart and will see itself as entirely radiant with light and full of discernment and perception.
Your first Lenten assignment: please read the passages assigned for today from Joel, Paul and Matthew's gospel. Wait for the Spirit's urging to realize God's message for you in these readings--in the open spaces of your heart. The prophet, the apostle and the evangelist all wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit. Don't think about what they mean but that God's Holy Spirit in Christ awaits but our feeble and flawed efforts in faith to stretch our hearts and discover anew the Lord within with a whole new sense and purifying purpose: new light, new life, new now. This Lent, let Christ rise in your heart as never before (but as He's always done!).
Tim Cooper is the proud husband of Rosemary,
director of America's Best Small Library, and proud dad to
Rory and Aidan, graduates of St Stephen Elementary (2004, 2005).
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Today's Readings
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Jesus made this statement to His disciples prior to his passion, when he literally took up a cross - a heavy, splintery cross - because of his obedience to the Father and intense love for all people. We are those people, as are the homeless, the disabled, the unborn, the underserved, the rich, the happy, the lonely. Everyone. People from all times in history, of every age, religion, gender, and ethnicity. He carried that cross; wore that painful, prickly “crown;” was spit at, mocked, and stripped of his clothing. That is Love.
We are asked to take up our crosses daily and follow Jesus. Our crosses can take so many different forms: temptation to sin, physical pain, greed, selfishness, sadness, worry, loneliness, etc. We can have few or many, and they can change with time.
Right now, my family is burdened with the loss of a loved one. A son, brother, grandchild, uncle, cousin, friend. The support of an unparalleled community coupled with our faith helps us to carry this cross of sorrow. In fact, amid the pain, there is joy! After Jesus’ suffering, he rose from the dead; He gave us hope that after our earthly life, there is eternal life – forever with Him! We take great comfort in knowing that we will see our Danny again.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please give us the strength to carry our daily crosses.
Help us to remember that Jesus carried the weight of human sin on his shoulders and opened the gates of Heaven so that we can be with Him forever. Please guide us to think and act as Christians so that we may be worthy of the promise of eternal life.
Anne Prial and her family have lived in Warwick and belonged to St. Stephen's Parish for 29 years. They are most grateful for the gifts of faith and community.
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Sacrifices are difficult to maintain; specifically those pertaining to the spiritual body. Building one’s soul can involve a certain amount of friction. As we journey through this beautiful, awe filled life, we are faced with challenges. Challenges inevitably break us and from the pieces a different perspective is envisioned. Each person is given an opportunity to have hope, to love, and to trust in the process.
Complete trust in God is not a simple task; I struggle with this daily. The mind wanders and dives into an abysses of thoughts. Thinking occurs to protect us; the mind calculates and recalculates to offer protection. But—the past is obstinate and the future is variable. Trusting God and feeling His immense joy in the friction is the antidote. Accepting this into the psyche takes a lifetime but is worth it.
Sacrifice is trust. This year has been challenging for many. As you look up at the sun, trust the warmth shining back at you. Move fluidly throughout this life and ground your thoughts in trust. Sacrifice is trusting that there are not answers to everything. God created us in the Imago Dei; he created us in the image and likeness of Himself. Funny how we think God is so far away; one needs to only recognize Him.
What I offer from this reflection is the recognition that sacrifice isn’t only physical manifestations. Sacrifice worry, fear, and doubt in order to embrace trust.Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my whole will, all that I have and all that I possess. You gave it all to me, Lord; I give it all back to you. Do with it as you will, according to your good pleasure. Give me your love and your grace; for with this I have all that I need.
-St. Ignatius Prayer
Tom Holtman is a lifelong parishioner and attended St. Stephen-St. Edward School; he attended the University of Scranton as well. Tom is part of the parish music ministry. He currently resides in Warwick and enjoys contemplation, meditation, and prayer to pass the time when he is not working or with his 8 month old nephew, Cayden.
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Today's Readings
The Feast Day of Saints Jacinta (1910-1920) and Francisco Marto (1908-1919)
When Our Lady appeared to the Portuguese shepherds in 1917, Europe was in the midst of an extremely bloody war and Portugal itself was in political turmoil with a government that disbanded religious organizations. Though we are not in a bloody war, we are in the midst of a spiritual war with a culture attacking the very foundations of our faith.
So what do we do? We feel so helpless. “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth” (Psalm 86:11). What is truth? I always think of Pontius Pilate when he asked Jesus that question. Why didn’t Jesus answer? He could have said so many things! But then, Pilate was looking truth in the face and didn’t recognize him. Do I do that? With so many lies muddled amidst truths, how do I know what is true? Everyone believes they possess the truth. What I believe must be right and everyone else wrong. What a dangerous place to be! Unless Jesus is at the very center of your being, you do not know truth.
What do we do with those that desire to crush us? “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live” (Ezekiel 33:11). It is so easy to hate your enemies. Don’t fall into that abyss. Remember how much Jesus desires ALL souls to come home to Heaven! We need to do the same. God desires that we participate in the salvation of all souls. When you become aware of someone that does not think the way you do, pray for them. Have you prayed for President Biden and President Trump? If you are able to pray for one and not the other, then you are not living truth.
Our Lady instructed the children at Fatima to pray the rosary “to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war”. We need to listen to our Mother.Most Holy Father, we ask for the conversion of those that have turned away from you, for the conversion of our nation, leaders, and all people, through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Annette Shaughnessy is a long time parishioner of St. Stephen’s and lives in Florida with her husband, John. They have two children, one working in counseling and the other at the University of Scranton.
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I personally don’t know anyone who looks forward with enthusiasm to the Lenten season. If you know of someone who can’t wait for Ash Wednesday so that they can stop eating meat on Fridays and give up some of their favorite treats and activities I’d like to hear about them (P.S. – Dead saints don’t count). This is the time of year when we hear (or ask), “What are you giving up for Lent?” Why do we give up things? I needed a reminder of what “giving up stuff” is all about.
The idea behind giving up something during Lent is fasting. It’s a remembrance of Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert and calls for us to follow his example. And it’s not fasting alone, but prayer and fasting together. They’re a set. Prayer without fasting is powerful, but fasting without prayer, not so much. So what’s the point of fasting? There must be a point if Jesus himself fasted.
Fasting helps us order our thoughts toward the spiritual by putting aside for a time certain worldly things, most commonly food. When we fast we create a physical need that results in a longing for what we denied ourselves. Every longing wants to be satisfied, and creating a longing that we simply leave unsatisfied isn’t very profitable. The reason we create the need in the first place is not to make ourselves uncomfortable, but instead to satisfy it with something higher, something spiritual: prayer and repentance.
Yes, a level of physical discomfort comes with fasting. Having one less meal in a day or having only a small bowl of soup instead of a three-course meal can be uncomfortable. Jesus was clearly uncomfortable during his fast. And like Jesus, we can be tempted to give in to our needs and desires. We can be quite vulnerable to Satan’s temptations when we’re tired and weak, as Jesus most certainly was after being alone and hungry in the desert. But Jesus held fast, prayed, and was supported by the angels who came to minister to him. Was Jesus able to resist and triumph over Satan and his temptations because he was God? No. Jesus, who was fully human like we are turned to His Father, prayer, and scripture to give him the strength to send Satan packing. Just as we can.Dear Father, may we be ever mindful of the power of prayer and fasting as we journey through another Lenten season, and may we avail ourselves of these powerful tools throughout the year. Help us to remember to call on your beloved Son for strength and comfort when we are vulnerable and undergoing temptation, and give us the confidence to know that we, though weak mortals, are able to overcome Satan’s power with Jesus’ help.
Jim DiMauro is a longtime parishioner of St. Stephens. He is married to Ruthann, who serves as a parish secretary.
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Today is the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the Apostle. I honestly didn’t realize this when I signed up for the reflection today. I am certainly no expert on St. Peter or the feast itself. I remember reading somewhere that a chair is a symbol of authority. That’s why the person who is the head of a meeting is called a chairperson. Thus why the church called this feast day, “The Chair of St. Peter.”
But what drew me in to write the reflection today were the readings. I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on things going on in the world. Specifically, taking in the way people have been treating each other. It’s not just one “type” of person or another, it’s many different people all treating one another as if they know best and those who think or believe differently are completely wrong or ignorant. I’m sure you all have seen it too: the insults, name calling, angered exhortations. It truly makes me sad.
But what I keep coming back to is that Jesus didn’t behave that way. He befriended those who were considered sinners in His society. He offered them companionship and guidance. Jesus’ followers followed Him because of what he said and did. He led by example; he didn’t ridicule, insult, or name call. He just simply spread God’s message of love and mercy. Aren’t we called to do the same? I don’t believe by insulting someone, you’re going to lead them to God or Jesus as His son. We’re called to lead by example; by doing good works, by showing love and mercy, and by helping the weakest among us. This is what Jesus did.
That is why he made Peter His rock. Not because Peter was perfect but because Peter could lead by example. In the first reading today, Peter said, “Beloved… Tend the flock of God in your mist, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it. ...Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.” Be examples to the flock, not by constraint but willingly. Those words just beckon to me. We cannot make someone believe who doesn’t wish to believe but we can be the example of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
What examples are we being today? Right now? What examples have we been in the past? Let us be the example the Psalmist sings of today. Let all the world see that we believe the Lord is our shepherd, we fear no evil, He refreshes our soul, and gives us courage. Be the example you want to see in the world. Plant the seeds of faith. Who knows who you may lead to God and Jesus as His son.
Lord, thank you for the many lessons and guidance You give to Your people.
Help us to follow You and those leaders You put in Your place on earth.
Thank you for the leadership of St. Peter and Pope Francis.
Help me to say with surety, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” and mean it. Help me to be the example you wish to see in the world.
Amen
Kim Dixon and her husband Dan have been parishioners of St. Stephen’s for almost 20 years. She is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith and loves to teach Religion. She is also a member of the adult choir (when they can sing together again).
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**Please note: today's reflection is not presented in our usual format.
If you would rather read the text, it is provided after the video.
Me: Our Father, who art in heaven.
God: Yes.
Me: Did I hear a voice?
God: You did.
Me: Just as soon as I began to pray somebody interrupts me. I’d better start again. Our Father, who art in heaven.
God: Yes.
Me: You’ve interrupted me again.
God: But you called me. You said: ‘Our Father, who are in heaven.’ So here I am.
Me: Oh my God!
God: You sound surprised.
Me: Frankly, I’m very surprised. I didn’t really expect you to answer.
God: Oh, so that’s all the faith you have in me. Anyhow, now that we’ve made contact, what’s on your mind?
Me: To be quite honest, I haven’t given it much thought. I say the ‘Our Father’ every now and then. It makes me feel good.
God: Oh, so that’s what prayer is for- to make you feel good. I see, go on.
Me: Hallowed be thy name.
God: Hold it! What do you mean by ‘hallowed’?
Me: It means…Let me see…Hallowed?…Hallowed?…Good heanves, I don’t know what it means.
God: Do you normally use words you don’t understand when you’re talking to people?
Me: No.
God: Well then, why do you do so when you’re talking to me? After all, that’s what prayer is- a conversation between me and you.
Me: Good point, Lord. By the way, what does the word mean?
God: It means ‘may it be honoured’ or ‘may it be seen as holy’.
Me: So what I’m really praying for is that your name might be honoured by everybody.
God: That’s the general idea.
Me: May I go on now?
God: By all means.
Me: Thy Kingdom come.
God: What kind of kingdom have you in mind?
Me: I’m not sure. All I know is that the world is in a mess.
God: What kind of world would you like to see?
Me: I’d like to see everyone living in peace.
God: Do you live in peace with everyone?
Me: Nearly everyone. However, there are a few people I’d like to strangle. There’s one neighbour whom I’d like to see emigrate to the North Pole.
God: But what about the trouble you cause? You’re no angel, you know.
Me: This is starting to hurt, Lord. Aren’t we taking a bit too seriously?
God: But you did pray for my kingdom come. So why not begin with yourself? You do want to belong to my kingdom, don’t you?
Me: I do, but I’m not sure what it involves.
God: Ordinary people help to spread my kingdom by being kind, truthful, honest, just, and so on. In a nutshell, by doing my will.
Me: Your will- that’s the next part of the prayer. May I go on then?
God: Certainly.
Me: Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
God: ‘On earth’ presumably means your life too?
Me: Of course.
God: Well then, what are you going to do about it?
Me: How do you mean what am I going to about it? Haven’t I just prayed about?
God: So you have. But I repeat: What are you going to do about it?
Me: Actually I wasn’t planning on doing anything.
God: Oh, so that’s how it is. You pray for my will to be done. Then you sit back, fold your arms, and do sweet nothing about it. Let’s be practical for a moment. When last did you put yourself out to help another person? And what about that tongue of yours?
Me: Stop, Lord! I’m no worse than anyone else. Still, I would like to be a better person.
God: Good! Things are beginning to look up. Praying could be dangerous you know.
Me: What do you mean?
God: If you took it seriously you could end up a changed person. Continue please.
Me: [Looking at his watch] This is taking a lot longer than I expected. Normally I’m finished my prayers in two minutes flat. What’s worrying me is this: I’m supposed to meet someone at Halligan's in five minutes. Couldn’t we finish this another time?
God: Finished in two minutes flat! Sounds like a rushed job to me. So you can’t wait. A minute ago you were praying for my will to be done. Now it’s your will that must be done.
Me: Oh, well, I suppose I might as well go on.Give us this day our daily bread.
God: What are you praying for now?
Me: For bread- at least that’s what the prayer says, isn’t it?
God: Yes, but bread for whom?
Me: For myself of course.
God: For yourself? You don’t look undernourished to me. So what more do you want?
Me: Don’t get me wrong, Lord, I’m not complaining. I’m grateful for the many good things I have in my life. But I feel there is something missing. At times I feel very empty.
God: What you’re experiencing is a spiritual hunger.
Me: A spiritual hunger. I’m not sure I know what you mean.
God: A human being has a soul as well as a body. The soul too needs food.
Me: I see.
God: Let us get on then with the rest of the prayer. I’m very interested in the next part of it. [brief pause]. Well, aren’t you going on?
Me: I’m afraid of what you’ll say.
God: Why don’t you try me and see?
Me: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
God: What about the mother-in-law?
Me: I knew you’d bring her up. Why, Lord, she’s the greatest b…b…bad person I’ve ever met. If only she’d mind her own business.
God: But what about your prayer. ‘As we forgive those who trespass against us’?
Me: Ah, Lord, be reasonable. Forgive her? Sure, I can’t even bear the sight of her. Boy, have I got plans for her. When I’m finished with her she’ll be sorry she ever crossed my path.
God: Oh, so it’s back to the old business of ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ It’s a good thing everyone doesn’t think like you, or half of the world would be going around blind and toothless. I take it then that you’re not going to forgive her.
Me: Honestly Lord, I couldn’t promise you that.
God: And yet you expect me to forgive you. You’re not going to forgive her- is that final?
Me: That’s final.
God: Well then, for goodness sake go off to…Halligan's and don’t be wasting my time.
Me: Don’t cut me off, Lord. Wait a minute. Are you still there, Lord? [no reply] Look’s as if I’ve been cut off. I wouldn’t mind but I was just going to say that maybe I can forgive her after all…I can…I will…are you there, Lord?
God: I am.
Me: Oh, good! You had me scared for a minute. I thought you’d cut me off.
God: I take it that you don’t like to be cut off.
Me: You bet I don’t.
God: Well that’s exactly what you do when you don’t forgive. You cut the other person off from you, and you cut yourself off from me. So you are willing to forgive her?
Me: I’ve already forgiven her.
God: Good, let’s go on with the prayer.
Me: Lead us not into temptation.
God: You know, that one always makes me smile.
Me: Why do you say that, Lord?
God: Tell me something. When did you need me, or anyone else for that matter, to take you by the hand and lead you into temptation? Do you not walk into it of your own accord and with both eyes open? I mean, no one puts an obscene book or magazine into our hand. No one forces you to take that extra drink.
Me: Stop, Lord, I’ve heard enough. I get your point. Yes, there are times when I bring temptation on myself. But then there are times when it comes to me unbidden.
God: True, but temptation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a chance for you to prove your loyalty and maturity.
Me: So what should I pray for?
God: Pray for the strength to avoid the temptations you can avoid, and to resist the ones you can’t
Me: Sounds like good advice.
God: You may go on now.
Me: Deliver us from evil.
God: What have you in mind?
Me: I had a friend who was killed in a car accident. And another who died of cancer while still young.
God: You’re not blaming me, are you?
Me: No, of course, not.
God: You know, I don’t want those kind of things to happen.
Me: Yet, when they happen, you hear people say: ‘It’s the will of God.’
God: It’s not my will that tragedies should happen.
Me: But could you not prevent them?
God: Your question is not one that can be answered in a few words. But let me say just this. I made the things of nature to follow the law of nature. I’ve got to respect that law. To people I gave the gift of free will. I’ve got to respect their freedom.
Me: Then you can’t guarantee me a life free from pain and struggle?
God: No, I couldn’t do that even for my own Son. However, there is something I will do.
Me: What is that?
God: I’ll help you to cope with whatever evil comes.
Me: Lord, even if I have to walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil as long as you are with me.
God: Oh, I’ll be with you alright. You can count on that.
Me: I will. Thank you, Lord. I’ve finished. That’s the end of my prayer.
God: We’ve had quite a chat.
Me: We sure had.
God: Many people say prayers rather than pray. Now if in the course of our chat I’ve pointed out some of your faults, it’s because I care about you. I want you to be a better and a happier person. You can go now. But just remember this: In spite of all I said, I still love you just as you are.
Me: Just as I am? Faults and all? Do you really mean that, Lord?
God: I do. I trust I’ll be hearing from you again soon?
Me: You certainly will.
God: Well then, let’s say ‘Amen’.
Amen (together)
This Dialogue with God, based on The Lord's Prayer, was written by Fr. Flor McCarthy. Each summer Fr. Flor visited St. Stephens he would present this at a Sunday homily, as it tied in with the readings.
In memory of Fr. Flor, may you rest in eternal peace. Thank you for your gifts!
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Today’s first scripture reading tells us the story of Nineveh and how God was going to turn His wrath on the city, but in His mercy, He sent Jonah to warn the people. The king and his people believed Jonah and repented of their sins. They fasted, put on sackcloth and turned to God calling loudly to Him. God saw by their actions that they repented for their sins and evil ways. He had mercy on them and did not do what He had vowed to do.
Today’s scripture is relevant to our time. Jonah isn’t running through our cities warning us that God will rain fire down on us, but we must realize that we, as a country, have turned away from God. Our country is in trouble. Our culture is dictating a narrative that takes God out of everything and tells us to do whatever we feel like doing. The culture’s take on freedom, but at what cost?
Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. A time when we go into the dessert to die to self by giving more of our time to others and sharing what we have to those less fortunate. A time to deny ourselves food, the things we like and putting others’ needs before our own. But maybe the hardest of all is giving up our favorite sins. Lent is the time we repent and lose ourselves in God’s will for us, hopefully growing closer in relationship to Him with prayer and by replacing the things we’re attached to with the things of God.
However, I believe God is calling us to do more this Lent. He’s calling us to counter the culture’s narrative. To live out our Catholic faith fearlessly with love and compassion in a culture that defies and denies Him. To be courageous and openly uphold the Church’s teachings, especially on the dignity of all human life. To pray for the conversion of our country and of ourselves. To lift each other up in prayer and pray especially for those who do not know God.
So yes, today’s scripture is relevant to our time. The story of Nineveh should be a reminder to us of how faith, action, prayer and repentance can glorify God while He heals each of us and our country.
“If my people…humble themselves and pray and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.
“Oh My God, help us this Lent to turn from sin and to turn back to you.
Help us to courageously live out our Catholic faith not only privately but in everything we do. Please heal us and have mercy on us.
“A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn.”Psalm 51
Amen.
Donna Washio and her family live in beautiful Warwick. She’s a secretary in the office at St. Stephen’s Church and enjoys talking to and meeting parishioners.
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Lent is the liturgical season for us to focus on our prayer life. Prayer looks different for each person; Some may not venture past the prayers learned in our formative years; others spend hours each day in contemplation. For many, prayer life falls somewhere in between. While there are many ways to pray, there are four basic forms of prayer:
·Prayer of Blessing and Adoration (praising God)
·Prayer of Petition (asking for what we need, including forgiveness)
·Prayer of Intercession (asking for what others need)
·Prayer of Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)
In today’s reading from the Book of Esther, we see Queen Esther praying. She begins, “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.”Esther begins speaking with God by praising him. She goes on, “Help me, who am alone and have no help but you…” She asks God for what she needs, and continues, “save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness,” asking God for what others need, too.
My favorite form of prayer is that of Thanksgiving and comes most naturally to me. This past weekend our family enjoyed snowshoeing on a quiet trail in New Jersey. We were alone on the trail. The snow was mostly untouched after the recent snowfall. The sunlight appeared speckled through the trees and along the trail, casting a beautiful glow on the snow. Along the walk, a barn and home in the distance reminded me of a familiar Normal Rockwell print. At that moment I could not help but contain my gratitude to God for the beauty of my surroundings, the ability and health of my body to be able to snowshoe and for the presence of my family! I felt a warmth in my soul through that experience. I am certain I was with God.
Today’s Gospel from Matthew reminds us that God is always with us. He is right by our side, desiring to be in relationship. Prayer is our way to spend time with him and nurture our relationship with him.
Jesus said to his disciples:“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The passage from Matthew’s Gospel is God’s invitation to each of us enter into prayer with him each and every moment of the day. He reminds us that he is already in our midst. He calls out to me, to you, “I am here”. I believe that this is the nudge God gives us throughout the extraordinary and mundane moments of each day. Let us recognize them, always.Loving father guide me always to fix my eyes on you.
I know that you love me in spite of my sinfulness
You are always near
Let me always desire to ask, seek and knock.
Amen.
Mary Juliano and her family have been blessed to be part of the St. Stephens parish community since 1999.
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In today’s gospel reading, Jesus told his disciples that we need to be more righteous than the scribes and the Pharisees to enter into the kingdom of heaven. How intimidating is that? How can we compete? Why would Jesus set the bar so high for us? Doesn’t He want us to go to heaven? He then goes on to tell us that anyone who is angry at his brother is subject to judgement and possibly jeopardizing going into heaven. Jesus clearly outlines the relationships he wants us to have. It is not only the deeds that you do, but your thoughts, your actions and your words. He equates murder with anger and ill feelings and thoughts we have for others. It reminds me of the part of prayer, “ I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done,and in what I have failed to do”.
Jesus warns that anger is damaging to one's heart and goes on to give us advice on what to do if someone is angry at you. We must offer ways to alleviate and resolve the situation, regardless of whether we are guilty of it or not. Jesus is asking us to actively seek forgiveness from those who are angry at us. He wants us to care about their salvation and to resolve any conflicts that might separate them from the kingdom of God. Jesus reminds us to solve our disagreements quickly with the person we are having the conflicts with. Remember God has given us everything we need for forgiveness and the act of forgiving. Surrender to the Holy Spirit and pray for his assistance.Forgiveness prayer
Dear Lord, Watch over my thoughts, my words and my actions.
Please remind me to forgive others as I would like to be forgiven.
Please provide me with the peace of the Holy Spirit to find forgiveness for those who have hurt me, guidance to prevent me from hurting others and solutions to overcome our transgressions. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Maureen Degnan has been a parishioner of St. Stephen's Church since 1996. She taught CCD classes at St. Stephen's for 11 years.
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I remember memorizing the Ten Commandments when I was a child. I remember getting in trouble in school when I did not follow the rules. I frown when I think about some of the traffic tickets I've received. As an adult, I generally consider myself to be a rule follower.Today, the first two pieces from Scripture implore us to do just that. In the first, Moses explains that we are God's sacred people, and for our part, we must follow His commandments. Psalms then exclaims, "Blessed are they who follow the Lord!"
And for me, I've come to think blessed are those that follow the rules means blessed are those who don't make trouble.Then comes the Gospel reading. Then comes Jesus, the new Lamb. And His commandment to love your enemy does not make it easy to follow the rules. For me, my thinking about keeping things smooth by following the rules is tossed out because loving your enemy can invite trouble. Standing up for a perceived enemy may create a new one, but perhaps that is just a new opportunity to love.I fall short in honoring this commandment. I have very often been approached by folks less fortunate than me who ask for some change or a dollar. It's not just that I am not loving my less fortunate neighbor, but if I am honest, I fall short because I see them as an enemy--someone who is not of my "group." On a more narrow level, I have not stood up for others in social situations because they occupy a certain place outside of my social circle; again, that person is not "one of us." And so my lack of compassion as well as my lack of strength keeps me from loving my "enemy." Even politically we draw sides. But Jesus was neither liberal or conservative; He was a radical. And loving your enemy is just as radical idea now as it was back then.
For my own part, I will use this Lenten season as a time to become more aware of opportunities where I can follow Jesus and be more Christ-like by loving my enemy. I pray that it will not just be an exercise, but that it will become a more predominant practice in my life.Dear Lord God,Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to us as our perfect example of someone who loved their enemies. Please grant us the Grace, wisdom, and courage to follow His example, that we may live up to our status as Your sacred people.Amen.Joseph De Bona has been a teacher and administrator in Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of New York for 16 years. He is currently the principal at St. John School (Warwick and Goshen campuses). He and his wife recently moved to Orange County.
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In the first reading of this Sunday, Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son. It looks like as if God wants human blood and human sacrifice…isn’t that so disgusting?
Well, I have seen, in and around my village, the people of other faiths used to offer animal sacrifices just before they till the ground to seek the divine blessing for good crops. It is around the beginning of August every year the feast is celebrated. On that special feast the simple farmer folk would bring their own family’s black hens and black goats and gather in front of the temple with the chief priest to offer them. As a sign of sacrifice to God, half portion of the sacrifice will be given to the temple and, as a sign of blessing, the other half portion will be brought home to celebrate with the family. Even now, my friends of other faiths in and around my village still celebrate it.
What I like in this is not the animal sacrifice but the intention of seeking the blessing of God before tilling the ground for good harvest. In the first reading we have Abraham, who is asked to sacrifice his only son! I am sure that it is not to satiate God’s anger but to test his faith. Even then, it presents a troubling image of God. Abraham may display faith and obedience to an admirable degree but what are we to think of divinity who tests him by letting him believe until the very last moment that he must kill and sacrifice his only son?
But you know what, it implicitly leaves us with a beautiful lesson which we need to trumpet in our society so that it may hear the fundamental truth of life again and again. That is to say, by preventing Abraham from sacrificing his own son, the divinity reveals that God, and God alone, is the author of human life. This teaching is found in the book of Job as well as in the teaching of Jesus. Job, we remember well, having endured suffering to excruciating levels, cries out, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
However, besides that, the beautiful lesson that we may learn from Abraham’s story is that we may like to offer many things but are we ready to give to the Lord what He demands of us? That is the question we need to reflect. This is what Abraham did. He offered everything that the Lord asked of him. If you listen to what God asks of you, God will PROVIDE what you need.
You will realize this point if you just go through his story:
The first time, when Abraham was asked to leave his father’s land to go to a distant place that God would show, he left trusting in the providence of God. After the birth of Isaac, Sarah asked Abraham to cast away his maidservant, Hagar, and his son Ishmael. He was heart-broken, but God asked him to listen to Sarah, not because God wanted Hagar and her son Ishmael to die in the desert, but because God wanted to make a nation of him also as he is also Abraham’s offspring. Abraham, relying on God’s loving care and providence, sends his beloved son Ishmael out into the death-dealing desert. Most likely he thought Ishmael would die. It’s hard to imagine the levels of human suffering that were swirling around these people. Years later, when Isaac grows to about the same age as Ishmael, Abraham is asked again, this time by God Himself, to dispatch his beloved son by plunging a knife into his heart. There are no promises given by God, no indications whatsoever, that there will be any divine protection given to Isaac. All Abraham has left, the only thing upon which he can rely, is God’s goodness and love. Abraham acts on pure faith alone.
And that’s the whole point as well as that of the Gospel account. The truth is that Abraham was ready to offer everything that the Lord asked of him. He just followed the maxim, “Let go and Let God.” He walked towards the dark future that he did not know but COMPLETELY TRUSTING in the Lord, and the Lord PROVIDED.
In the transfiguration, along with the messianic witness of Elijah and Moses, the Father’s voice affirms the divine status of Jesus: “This is my Son, the Beloved, Listen to Him!” It perhaps answers too the question of Peter: how come, Jesus whom he confessed as the son of God, would suffer? If we remained buried in our present suffering, we will not be able to see the horizon of hope. We must raise our eyes toward that hope so that we can see the sign of joy beyond suffering.
Transfiguration is simply a glimpse of the gift and glory of God. Today, Christ reveals his future Glory. However, to attain the fullness of this glory, He must first suffer and be crucified. This is a road that we must also walk to partake in this glory.
He DEMANDS only one thing from us: “Listen to him!” Listening to Christ means transforming our lives and changing our ways. It means living according to the word of God we hear every day.
So, Christ speaks to us through the poor and the marginalized, through the defenseless, through the sick, through the abandoned old people, through the abandoned children in our streets, through the millions of aborted babies all over the world. Christ speaks to us through our lonely neighbors who need some care. Christ speaks to us through families and communities in difficulties.
Finally, if we respond to these quickly, rather than being indifferent, then we have listened to Jesus Christ, the beloved son of God.
Heavenly Father, as we walk with Abraham today, help us to listen to your Beloved Son. Give us courage so that we may leave everything that dominates our lives so as to be fully dominated by the words of your Son Jesus, the true Guide. Help us unite our suffering with the suffering of Jesus Christ so that we may be worthy of participating in the vision of His heavenly glory. Amen!
Fr. Jisaya Nayak is a Vincentian priest. He is a summer associate at St. Stephens, but was unable to spend last summer with us due to the pandemic. He is completing his doctorate in Rome.
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I’m not sure why, but when the time rolls around to write a reflection, I tend to choose the reading of the day that deals with judgment…maybe it’s because it’s something that is all around us. And after a year of living in a pandemic, I think all would agree that we are all guilty of judging others...who’s wearing and mask and who isn’t; who’s gathering in a crowd and who’s cancelling events; who’s getting a vaccine, who’s refusing, or who’s possibly scamming the system…lots of judgment out there. As a friend of mine put it, early on, “we are not our best selves right now.”
I recently read an interesting article in the New York Times about how Canadians, generally considered our very friendly, easy-going neighbors to the north, are now struggling to be good neighbors to each other. As Catherine Porter wrote in her article: “Canadians might be known internationally as nice, apologetic and fair-minded. But, a year after the pandemic arrived, some Canadians worry it has exposed a very different national persona: judgmental, suspicious and vengeful.”
From the same NYT article: “Historically, stigma and shaming have faithfully trailed pandemics,” said David Barnes, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies the history of infectious diseases and epidemics. He continued: “During the plague in Europe, Jewish people became convenient scapegoats. During the cholera epidemic in Britain in the 19th century, working-class Irish people were blamed.” A couple Sundays ago, during his homily, Deacon Tom spoke about the ostracization of those with leprosy – how they were completely cut off from society due to their disease. The more things change, it seems, the more they stay the same.
Further in today’s reading is the concept of giving…the more you give, to you more gifts are given…and those gifts may be unexpected. For the last eight months I have been doing the Mass seating for weekend Masses and holidays (a task for which I may end up in witness protection one day) and greeting for at least one Mass per weekend…giving the gift of my time and the ability to play a mean game Tetris in an effort to get everyone safely seated.
This task came with unexpected gifts…putting names to faces (albeit masked for now) for so many parishioners and seeing, really finding out, the width and breadth of the make-up of our parish – from the long-time pillars of the parish and couples whose children are grown, to the young adults and, of course, the families large and small…young families with babies and toddlers whose parents hope to hear half of what is said that morning; families with school age children who you can see have been in Mass enough to know responses, and families with older children who often slide into the pew with tousled hair because they just got up and drove separately…but they’re there.
All have received the gift of faith and appreciate its riches. And I hope some appreciate the gift this pandemic has given us all as we attend Mass…especially the part where you don’t always sit where you would have pre-Covid. You’ve probably noticed some of the different people that attend St. Stephen’s, might appreciate the struggle of young parents who are seated near you juggling their brood (perhaps as you once did long ago); smile inwardly at the normally eye-rolling teenagers who are there nonetheless; and the young adults, who often attend alone but faithfully every week. They are the future of the faith. I would not have necessarily noticed this before from my seat in the third row on the Mary side, or from the choir, but I see it now from my perch in the Atrium as everyone checks in. It is a gift… the chance for the young and the old, the serene and the harried, the happy and the sad, to all come together for one purpose: making Jesus and the Eucharist the center of our lives.
The pandemic has certainly taken its share from our lives, no one would argue with that. But one need only look past what was taken away to see what has, in fact, been given back and appreciate that gift. Maybe “going back to normal” will be little different after all.Lord Jesus, help us to be less judgmental and to open our eyes, look for and appreciate the unexpected gifts that come our way. Amen.
Katie Bisaro is a long-time parishioner of St. Stephen’s who hopes to recognize all the people she’s met once the masks come off.
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Good morning, I hope you all had a rejuvenating weekend, and you are ready for the challenges that the almighty Tuesday may and likely will bring.
A new week am I right? A new week to finally finish last week’s tasks and to push off any new ones. A new week of muttering the all too familiar phrase, “Is it the weekend yet?”. I find it to be a beautiful cycle, the yearning for the safety of Saturday, the suspension, then finally the erupting and internal elated cheers, all to come back to the yearning once again. A cycle that I find fits the Catholic truth fairly well. At least my truth, fairly well.
Today’s reading is about returning to the Father. To have your sins forgiven and your heart replenished. Even the darkest of reds can be purified to match the shepherd’s sheep at the Lord’s will. For a clearer comparison, we sin and run and hide, we confess our sins, enjoy that one hour of holiness, and then go back to the sin-filled lives we had just swore off two hours prior. We’re not perfect, but that is the beauty of the Church. He will always be there for us and be there waiting to sanctify our bodies with gentle arms. But that’s the thing, He will always be there. Putting that into mind, I myself especially, have fallen into a pattern of pushing off last week’s task of daily prayer or perhaps I’ll just dose off a bit during the Psalms because I can just read them at home, knowing that I can get to them at my own discretion. A lot of me me me in my mind when it 100% is not about me. It’s not even about my neighbor, it’s about Him. As Catholics we all know that. I know that. Yet, I continue my pattern. I have taken this Lenten season and instead of giving up chocolate or sweets past 10pm I am giving up a me centered attitude towards my faith. To go to the Lord on His time and not when it is convenient for me. My faith would not exist if it were not for Him, a symbiotic relationship that I have selfishly for too long excluded His desires.
“Come now, let us set things right”. Yearn and desire His safety. Yearn for something more than 48 hours of temporary release. But for the chance to be clean. Let us set things right and do as the disciple would do.
To close with a prayer,
My friends and family of the Church, I pray that together we find the strength in our hearts to give it all to Him. To live a holistic life of love and gratitude, and to live each day as you would in the Eternal Garden. May God Bless, be still and know.
Lian Walker is 17 years old and a senior at Warwick Valley High school. She plans to study Civil Engineering in school next year. She is also an avid golfer and hopes to continue recreationally in college.
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In today’s reading the people of Judah plan to conspire against Jeremiah. This prophet predicted something that the people of Jerusalem did not want to hear. He predicted the downfall of the city, and this was a very unpopular vision. Jeremiah was speaking the word of God, but many people did not want to hear what He had to say.
How often in life do we know that something is wrong, but we feel like we cannot make it right? And, if we do try to make it correct, what we are doing is against the cultural norms. Or, maybe we fear the consequences of our actions even though our intentions are good. At times we may even fear retribution for following through on our true convictions. Have you ever felt like this?
In the gospel reading, Jesus and the disciples literally climb up the mountain in Jerusalem. This is the place where Jesus will die to fulfill the purpose of His life. I do not know how many people on this earth who think of death as their fulfillment of life. Unless you practice faith, I believe that this is a difficult concept to grasp. Think of all of the things that we define as successful in life. Are they based on monetary possessions, or compassionate and faithful actions? Are they attributed to greed and accolades, or service and sacrifice? Jesus commits the ultimate sacrifice by giving himself up to God and his people.The Serenity Prayer
Lord help me to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Ryan Candia is a WVHS Social Studies Teacher. He is a lifelong Catholic and a 4 year parishioner of St. Stephen's.
